Cistern.



Patented Oct. I5, 190i.

UNrrnn stares FOUNTAIN T. MOFALL, OF PANA, ILLINOIS.

CISTERN.

$PEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,708, dated October 15, 1901.

Application filed August 19,1901. Serial No. 72,565. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FOUNTAIN T. MOFALL, a citizen of the United'States,residing at Pana, in the county of Christian and State of I1linois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oisterns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invent-ion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cisterns, vaults, or like structures chiefly designed to be embanlied or built below the surface of the ground and adapted to contain water.

The basis of this invention is a cistern constructed of sections of tile, cement, earthenware, artificial stone, or plastic material, the courses being rings having interlocking joints, and said rings being integral or formed of parts according to the size of the cistern and the convenience of handling the parts, the ends of the ring-sections being grooved to receive cement or bonding material.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic featurcs of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a cistern or like structure embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view, the crown or top being omitted. Fig, 4 is a perspective view of the bottom. Fig. 5 is a detail section showing more particularly the joint formed between the courses or rings. Fig. 6 is a section of a modified form of bottom for cistern.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The cistern, vault, or analogous structure comprises, essentially, a bottom, a body or sides, and a top or crown. The body or sides are composed of a series of courses consisting in the present instance of rings which may be integral or continuous or composed of a number of sections. The height or depth of the cistern will depend upon the number of courses or rings and the widthof the latter. The bottom 1 may be flat or rounding, as desired, and is preferably composed of a number of sections 2. This bottom is laid in a bed of cement and the joints between the sections are filled in and flushed with cement, so as to form, in effect, a solid and tight bottom. Arim 3 projects upward from the outer edge of the bottom, and the ends correspond ing with the sections 2 have vertical grooves 4, which unitedly form spaces or channels to receive cement or bonding material by means of which the joints between the sections of the rim are made tight and united. A V- shaped groove or channel 5 is formed in the upper edge of the rim 3 to receive the lower V-shaped edge 6 of the ring placed upon the rim 3 when constructing the cistern. Cement or like bonding material is placed in the groove 5 and forms a bond between the rim 3 and the ring resting therein, the cement being flushed or smoothed upon the inner side of the cistern, so as to present a continuous surface.

As previously stated, the courses consist of rings, which may be integral or sectional, the latter construction being preferred. The ends of the sections have vertical grooves 4, similar to the grooves in the sections of the rim 3 and for a like purpose-namely, to re ceive the bonding material whereby a watertight joint is formed between the sections. WVhen constructing the cistern, the sections of the superposed rings or courses are arranged to break joint, this being essential to the formation of a staple and durable structure. The lower edges of the rings are V- shaped, as shown at 6, and their upper edges have V-shaped grooves 5. The V-shaped edges 6 are longer than the grooves 5, there by enabling the extreme edge portion of the part 6 to rest in the bottom of the groove 5 and have a slight angular space between the opposing walls of the parts 5 and 6, in which the cement or bonding material lodges to form a tight joint between the rings or courses.

It is highly important that the joints be I depth than the V-shaped edges 6. The width and number of the rings or courses determine the height of the cistern or structure, and the latter is finished by a crown or cover which is dome shape.

The crown is formed of two courses 7 and 8, the course '7 being the finishing course of the sides or body and curving inward at its upper edge to give the initial spring to the crown. The course 8 forms the top and is of the shape of an inverted saucer and rests upon the course 7. Each of the courses 7 and 8 is composed of sections. The top course 8 has a central opening, in which is fitted the neck 9, by means of which access is had to the cistern or structure when desired after the same has been completed and is embanked or covered over. The water is admitted into the cistern through an opening 10, which constitutes the inlet, and is drawn off through an opening 11, forming the outlet. The neck 9 is closed by a cover 12 in the usual manner.

In accordance with this invention a cistern or like structure can be formed at any desired point and may be constructed of earthenware, cement, tile, or any plastic material and can be transported to the desired location and set up, and when completed will be durable, water-tight, and be free from roughness on its interior Walls, which is essential to the avoidance of collection of sediment and matter which generally fouls structures of this character.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a cistern or like structure, a bottom composed of sections and having a rim provided in its upper edge with a V-shaped groove and having the ends of the rim-sections vertically grooved, and a ring or course placed upon the rim of the bottom and breaking joint therewith and having its lower edge of V form, and bonding material flushed into the joint formed between the rim and ring, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cistern orlike structure, and in combination with the body, a crown or top composed of courses, the first course curving inward at its upper edge and the finishing course being of the shape of an inverted saucer and having a central opening, and a neck fitted into the said opening, the courses 4 FOUNTAIN T. MOFALL. [n s.]

Witnesses:

JOHN SCHLETT, GEORGE A. HANDSCHY. 

